Voice intensifier



l. V. MORRELL.

VOICE INTENSIFIER. APPLICATION FILED muzo'. I921.

Patented May 9,1922.

- 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

gwuewto'c l v. MORRELL. VOICE NTENSHER- APPLICATION FILED JAN-20, I92!- Pabented May 9, 1922.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2- [fa acVMOT/Z v UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice.

ISAAC V. MORRELL, OF EIiGIN, ILLINOIS.

VOICE INTENSIFIER.

Specification of Letters lPatent.

Application filed January 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,742.

Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Voice Intensifiers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use vthe same.

This invention relates to an improved voice intensifier for use by singers and preachers and oneobject of the invention is to provide a voice intensifier so constructed that the mouth-piece thereof may enclose the mouth and chin and fit against the throat and lower portion of the face, a plate being. mounted in the mouthpiece for extending beneath the chin and directing the sound waves through the mouthpiece into the horn of the voice intensifier.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the voice directing plate that it may have movement withthe chin.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved reed carrier which may be removably mounted in the mouthpiece adjacent its junction with the horn so thatthe sound waves will pass through the reed.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this reed carrier that the voice directing plate may be carried by the reed carrier and removed from the mouthpiece with the voice directing plate.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an improved type of horn. the horn being so constructed that the mouthpiece will be prevented from being vibrated and the sound Waves first caused to take a rotary movement and then to be vibratedhorizontally.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this intensifier that the sound waves may be controlled and thus a clear tone produced. I

Another object of the invention is to so construct this voice intensifier that all of the sound waves will be caused to pass through the mouthpiece and into the horn.

Another object of. the invention is to pro vide an improved type ofv handle for the voice intensifier, the handle being so constructed that it may be swung from a position at substantially right angles to the mouthpiece to a folded position in which the handle will engage the horn of the voice intensifier.

, Another object of the invention is to so mount this handle that it may not be swung beyond a desired point and to provide an improved device for releasably holding the handle in an extended or operative position.

Thi invention is illustrated in the accon1-- panying drawings, wherein: a

Figure l is a side elevation showing the voice intensifier in use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view looking toward the rear endof the voice intensifier.

Figure 3 is a view looking into the forward end of the horn.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the voice intensifier. Figure 5 is a horizontal'sectional view through the voice intensifier.

Figure 6'is a carrier. y

This improved. voice intensifier is provided with a mouthpiece 1 and a horn 2 and is further provided witha handle 3 which is connectedwith a yoke i, the arms of which] are pivotally connected'with the sides of the mouthpiece 1 as shown at 5 so that the handle may be swung from an operative position at right angles to the mouthpiece to a folded orinoperative position in which the handle will extend longitudinally of the in Patented May 9, 1922.

perspective view of the reed tensifier and engage the horn. Abutment v pins 6 arecarried by the walls of theniouthpiece to limit the swing of the yoke when the handle is moved to the operative position and a hook 7 which is formed of resilient wire is carried by the handle and adapted to engage the lower wall of the mouthpiece and thus securely but releasably hold thehandle in the operative position.

This mouthpiece is provided and lower walls free edge portions cut inwardly as shown so that the mouth and chin may fit within the mouthpiece with the edge of the lower wall 9 engaging the throat of the user and the edge of the upper wall and the edges of the side walls engaging the upper lip andsides of the lower portion of the mouthpiece. It will thus be seen that the lower portion of the face will be confined in the mouthpiece.

The horn 2 which extends from the recwith upper 8 and 9 which have their tangular mouthpiece l is itormed of any suitable material and is provided with a threat portion 10 which is rectangular in shape so that the sound waves caused by talking or singing will be prevented from causing the mouthpiece to vibrate. The rectangular throat 1O merges into a bell-shaped outer end portion :tor the horn which is provided with an inner portion which is circular in cross section and an outer portion which is elliptical. By having the inner portion of the horns outer section circular in cross section, the sound waves will be caused to move in a circular path after leaving the rectangular throat portion of the horn. Attter leaving the circular portion 11 of the bell-shaped outer section of the horn, the sound waves will pass through the elliptical port-ion 152 of the horn and since the walls oi, the horn have relatively thick upper and lower portions 13 which merge into relatively thin side portions 1a, the sound waves will be caused to vibrate horizontally. Therefore, the construction oi the horn will. serve to prevent vib 'ation of the mouthpiece and will produce tones which will be very clear.

In order to increase the efiieiency oi" the intensifier, there has been provided a reed carrier 15 which is positioned in the mouthpiece adjacent the throat of the horn. the reed carrier being so positioned that the reeds 15 will extend vertically and at substantially right angles to the longitudinal diameter of the intensifier. This reed carrier is in the form of a metal plate having side strips 16 which extend in flaring relation and upper and lower strips 17 and 18, the lower strip being bent to extend downwardly and then bent to extend parallel to the upper strip. The strips or flanges which extend from the upper and lower and side edges of the reed carrying plate, will engage the walls of the mouthpiece, the flaring side walls providing a good frictional binding which will serve to prevent the reed carrier from slipping out of place. In order to provide a very firm fastening for the reed carrier, but at the same time permit of the reed carrier being easily removed, buttons 19 will be carried by the side walls of the mouthpiece tor fitting into sockets 20 'lormed by pressing the side strips. Openings are formed in the reed carrying plate above and below the central cutout thereof and a length of cat-gut or other suitable material which :lorms the reeds 15' will be threaded through the openings. The reed carrier is made removable so that a reed carrier provided with reeds of a certain size may be removed and a reed carrier having reeds ot a dittterent size put in place. In the preferred form, one of the reed carriers will have reeds formed from a number 1 banjo string,

the openings being so positioned that the reeds or strings will be provided to the number of to an inch. In the second reed carrier, a number 2 banjo string will be made use of and the reeds will be provided to the number to an inch. In the next reed 'arrier, number 3 banjo strings will be used and sixteen reeds to the inch will be provided. It will thus be seen that the ditterent reed carriers may be rei'noveiil and the proper reed carrier put in place, the reed carrier having the liner reeds being used for a soprano or tenor voice, the second reed carrier having the medium reeds being used for a contralto or baritone voice and the reed carrier having the coarser reeds hcingzj used for a base voice, When this intensifier is in use, the voice should be directed through the mouthpiece and reeds into the horn and in order to do so there has been provided a voice guiding plate 21 which is li'illlfld oi. thin resilient metal. This plate is riveted to the lower strip or flange 18 and extends towards the open end of the mouthpiece and has its free end portion cut inwardh as shown at 22 so that the thin plate may extend beneath and engage the chin of the user without causing any discomtort. By having this plate formed of thin ltlfillltfllll metal, it will remain in engagement with the chin and will move with the chin thus at all times providing a voice guiding plate which will be in the proper position to hold the sound waves in the upper portion of the mouthpiece and direct the sound waves through the reed carrier into the horn.

When this device is in use, the handle is swung to the operative pt ition and the lower wall of the mouthpiece will be engaged by the hooks 7. The intensifier will, then be held by this handle and the lower ortion of the face placed in the mouthpiece with the chin resting upon the voice guiding plate 21. When it is no longer desired to use the intensifier, the hook T will be released and the handle can be swung tli'orwardly so that it will extend longitudinally of the intensifier with the free end of the handle engaging the horn. If another speaker or singer is to use the intensifier, and has a higher or lower voice than the previous user, it is simply necessary to remove the reed carrier together with the chin engaging plate and insert the proper reed carrier. As previously explained, the construction of the horn prevents the mouthpiece from being vibrated by the sound waves passing through the rectangular throat and the sound waves are then caused to take a rotary movement as they pass through the circular portion of the horn and are then curved to vibrate horizontally as they pass through the elliptical outer end portion of the horn, thereby producing a very clear tone. An intensifier has thus been provided which will be ver eliective in operation and which will be so constructed that it may accommodate itself to the voice of the speaker or singer.

I claim:

1. A voice intensifier comprising a horn and a mouthpiece for engaging the face and throat of the user, and a flexible plate in said mouthpiece for extending beneath and engaging the chin of the user and directing the voice through the mouthpiece into the horn.

2. A Voice intensifier comprising a horn and a mouthpiece for engaging the throat and enclosing and engaging the lower portion of the face of the user, and flexible means within said mouthpiece for extending beneath the chin of the user and directing the voice through the mouthpiece into the horn.

3. The structure of claim 2 having the voice directing means as an element removable from the body of the mouthpiece and positioned for engaging the chin and moving 'yertically with the chin when in place.

4. A voice intensifier comprising a horn and a mouth-piece, a flexible plate in the mouth-piece for extending beneath and engaging the chin of the user and directing the voice through the mouthpiece, and means for mounting the flexible plate within the mouth-piece consisting of an open frame fitting within the mouth-piece and having the plate connected therewith.

5. The structure of claim 4 having the mounting frame for the flexible plate in the form of a plate having its intermediate portion open and having its edge portions provided with tongue extensions for engaging the walls of the mouth-piece to hold the frame in place within the mouth-piece, the eh1n-engag1ng plate belng secured to one of a said tongues.

6. A voice intensifier comprising a horn, and a mouth-piece, a plate in the mouthpiece having its intermediate portion open and having its upper, lower and side edge portions provided with resilient tongue extensions engaging the mouth-piece to frictionally hold the plate in place, and a flexible plate carried by and extending from the lower tongue extension longitudinally of the mouth-piece for engaging the chin of the user and moving with the chin to direct sound waves through the mouth-piece and open frame into the horn.

7. A voice intensifier comprising a horn and a mouth-piece, an open reed carrying frame in said mouth-piece and having wings extending fromits edge portions for engaging the walls of the mouthpiece to releasably hold the frame in place, and a flexible plate carried by and extending from the frame longitudinally within the mouthpiece for engaging the chin of the user and directing sound waves through the mouth-piece and frame.

8. A voice intensifier comprising a horn and a mouth-piece, an open reed carrier fitting within said mouth-piece, and a flexible element carried by and extending from the frame longitudinally within the mouth-piece for engaging the chin and moving with the same and directing sound waves through the mouthpiece and reed carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y ISAAC V. MORRELL. 

